• Open Horizons - a network of accessible viewpoints
• The Shropshire Hills Shuttle is off to a flying start
• Ten years of Community Conservation
• Pine Marten Magic, a talk on 1st July
• Rock climbing, reading maps and repairing fences
• Shropshire Hills National Landscape Forum
• Events coming up in the Shropshire Hills

Open Horizons - a network of accessible viewpoints

A network of accessible viewpoints across the Shropshire Hills has been developed to help more people experience some of the county’s most iconic scenery.

The Open Horizons project, supported through DEFRA’s Access for All funding, has been designed to help open the natural landscape to people with a range of access needs, ensuring that more visitors can enjoy Shropshire’s countryside with confidence.

The viewpoints were carefully selected for their suitability for people with limited mobility. Some enable visitors to enjoy spectacular views directly from their car, while others include short, level routes to the viewpoint. A small number of sites require a slightly longer walk, offering options to suit different abilities and preferences.

Each viewpoint is supported by a detailed access guide, providing clear and practical information about parking, paths, gradients, and nearby facilities. This enables visitors to decide in advance whether a site meets their individual needs and to plan their visit with confidence.

All information about the accessible viewpoints, including access guides, images, details about the artists and audio descriptions, is available via the Shropshire’s Great Outdoors website, Access for All - Shropshire's Great Outdoors.

This was a partnership project between Shropshire Council and the Shropshire Hills National Landscape team. Read press release.

The Shropshire Hills Shuttle is off to a flying start

The Long Mynd & Stiperstones Shuttle has started this season with wings! In it’s first two weeks (since 9^th May) it has carried more passengers and taken more fares than last year. You’ll remember from a previous article that last year was a record breaker, with the bus carrying over 1,600 passengers, during its short 22-week season.

Earlier in the year it was touch and go whether the service would have the funding to continue, but Shropshire Council Public Transport team were able to step in with additional funding and support, recognising what a valuable service this is to the community and visitors.

The service is now being delivered by Lakeside Coaches from their new depot near Church Stretton. We are delighted to be working with them, and hope to have as successful relationship with them as with Boultons of Shropshire, who have delivered the service for many years.

Nigel McDonald, National Landscape Regenerative Tourism Officer said, ‘These are such encouraging figures for the start of the season, and it’s great for us to see so many ‘frequent flyers’ enjoying the bus for another summer.’

Tips for using the bus

• The service is now viewable on Google Maps, that shows the next available bus and nearest stop, as if you were using any regular bus or train service.
• Timetables are available from National Trust Carding Mill Valley, The Bog Visitor Centre, TICs and libraries, as well as online (www.shropshirehillsshuttle.co.uk).
• The bus now takes contactless payments as well as cash.
• You can get a £7 Day Rover and use the bus as many times as you like during that day.
• Single journeys start at £2 per person.
• Kids and dogs travel free (conditions apply).
• You don’t need to be at a stop to be picked up,  you can flag the bus down anywhere along the route.
• To ensure you get a seat at the busiest times, arrive early, plan your day, and where possible ride out to walk back, as the start and end of day service can get busy.

For more information visit our website.

Ten years of Community Conservation

The Shropshire Hills Landscape Trust celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. A decade of channelling community support into practical, ground-level conservation work right across the National Landscape.

Since 2016, the Trust has awarded grants to 136 projects, distributing over £196,000 to the community groups, parish councils and individuals who form the living backbone of conservation in these hills. The funding comes principally from the Trust's Friends — supporters who pay regular subscriptions — and the results are tangible in hedgerows, meadows, woodlands and school grounds across Shropshire. Alongside the Friends' subscriptions, the Trust is grateful for the generous support of The Millichope Foundation, whose substantial contribution helps make the grant programme possible.

This spring, twelve projects were awarded a shared £16,088, and the range is striking. Clunbury Parish Council has been awarded £1,564 towards restoring heathland on Black Hill — once fine whinberry country, subsequently overwhelmed by bracken and self-seeded Sitka Spruce. 

Meadow supporters will be particularly interested in the grant to the Marches Meadow Group (MMG), which has received £1,000 towards evaluating the impact of its survey and advisory work since 2016. MMG has been conducting free plant surveys of members' fields for a decade now, writing up results as advisory reports and suggesting actions to enhance diversity. The evaluation will assess the difference this has made to meadow quality across the Group's core area — useful evidence for the work we all care about.

Elsewhere, the Rea Valley Pine Marten Group is installing camera traps at Oaks Wood near Pontesbury to survey for pine martens (£1,500), and the Stretton Area Community Wildlife Group is partnering with St Lawrence's Primary School to connect Year 5 and 6 pupils with wildlife identification and wildflower gardening (£1,820). Six parishes — Bishop's Castle, Church Stretton, Edgton, Hope Bowdler, Lydbury North and Wistanstow — are collaborating to develop long linear meadow verges as connected wildlife habitat (£2,000). CPRE Shropshire has also received a grant to support an upcoming Hedgerows in the Hills event at Acton Scott Heritage Farm, which will engage children and young people with the countryside and its wonderful hedgerows.

The Trust’s model of small grants, deep community partnerships, a long-term commitment to the landscape is one worth celebrating and supporting. Ten years in, it's producing results that matter.  To support the Trust's work in its anniversary year, donations can be made online or by bank transfer.

Pine Marten Magic, a talk on 1st July

The second in our series of talks to celebrate the Shropshire Hills Landscape Trust’s 10th anniversary is coming up soon. Wednesday 1st July, 6.30 – 8.30pm at the Mayfair Centre, Church Stretton. Pine Marten Magic, restoring nature with you, me and our children. A talk by Sue Crichton, Wheathill Wildlife You can book online at Sue Crichton - Pine Marten Magic, restoring nature with you, me and our children

Rock climbing, reading maps and repairing fences

Recent Young Ranger activities have included practising map reading skills, route navigation, decision making and team building on the hills around Stapeley, rock climbing at Ippikin Rock on Wenlock Edge and improving the all-ability access trail at The Bog Mine site. Our Young Ranger programme empowers young people (12–16) to discover the outdoors and build their confidence and leadership skills.  This summer, the Young Rangers programme continues with a visit to Curlew Country to learn about their work to conserve our local curlew population, a hike to explore Blakemoorgate Cottages, historic miner's cottages above Snailbeach Lead Mine, and paddling on the River Severn. Through these hands-on tasks participants gain unforgettable experiences in, teamwork, environmental stewardship and practical life skills. See Young Ranger Summer Programme.

Shropshire Hills National Landscape Forum

Over 80 people attended the Shropshire Hills Forum which was held last month in Clun. The event was a mix of short presentations, workshops, field visits, networking and display stands, all focussed around activity happening locally to help to care for the landscape. 

The themes for the day were:
• The new 5 year Plan ‘Thriving in Balance with Nature’
• 10 years of community conservation through the Shropshire Hills Landscape Trust
• The Clun Catchment

The Forum brings together groups, individuals and organisations to discuss issues, share ideas and support activity to help to deliver the new 5-year Plan for the Shropshire Hills. OUr next event will be in November.

The Forum events are open to the public but we encourage anyone (individuals and organisations) to sign up as a Forum Member, to show your support the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. There is no charge for this, and you can withdraw at any time. Members receive additional electronic mailings of information and opportunities to get involved.

To join the Forum as a Member to show your support and keep in touch about future events, please click here Join Forum.

Events coming up in the Shropshire Hills

1 July, Pine Marten Magic - an illustrated talk 4 July, Open Meadows Day - explore our beautiful meadows in celebration of National Meadows Day 4 July, Stretton's Fun Day, Church Stretton 5 July, Blakemoorgate Cottages and Snailbeach Lead Mine Open Day 25 July - 10 August, Church Stretton Arts Festival 25 July, Dig into History - family archaeology at Clun Castle Visit our Events Page for more information.

Protecting and regenerating the Shropshire Hills National Landscape for everyone to enjoy. 

You can find out more by visiting our website www.shropshirehills-nl.org.uk or contact us:

Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team
Unit 5, Drovers House,
Auction Yard,
Craven Arms,
Shropshire SY7 9BZ.

Telephone: 01743 254740

Email: shropshirehills-nl@shropshire.gov.uk

Meet the National Landscapes family! There are 38 National Landscapes across England and Wales national-landscapes.org.uk/national-landscapes

The Shropshire Hills National Landscape team is hosted by Shropshire Council and funded also by Defra, Telford & Wrekin Council and project funders.

Contact details are held in accordance with the Data Protection Act, for queries or to be removed from this mailing list please contact us.